Earlier this week, an article was published on WREG (an NBC affiliate in Memphis)’s website, which reported the Memphis police’s alleged crackdown on crime in the Binghampton area of Memphis.

Tuesday (January 26), court injunctions were placed on two gangs, the Vicelords and the Grape Street Crips.

To the uninformed masses, this would appear to be a noble deed committed by the Memphis police. On the contrary, gang injunctions have had a notorious history of singling out innocent Black males (just because they randomly knew of a gang member, for example), and often gives municipalities in urban areas across the U.S. reason to gentrify traditionally Black neighborhoods.

We will continue to keep you informed of further developments as it pertains to this story.

B. Clark

The woman, named Alexis Cain, was sentenced to two years in prison after leaving her puppy in the car on a hot July afternoon. Although the puppy succumbed to the summer heat while sitting in the car, the owner of the dog (Cain) had no intent to inflict harm upon the animal.

The 24-year-Cain, who worked in a supervisory role at her job, displayed the ability to be a responsible young adult, despite what state prosecutor, Eric Christiansen says. ““I think it’s fair,” he says. “She left the dog in there for two hours. She killed the dog, basically. Just let it cook to death.”

The two year prison sentence is excessive due to the nature of the crime, yet Christiansen states that it was done to make an example out of people who may do what Ms. Cain did back in July. Alexis Cain is eligible for a program that would enable her to do her time outside of prison with stipulations of good behavior.

Regardless of the fact that she is granted such an opportunity, this is yet another example of the lives of animals being valued over the lives of Black humans. In the process, another Black life (Cain’s) has been made more difficult for trivial purposes.

For more on this story, follow this link.

B. Clark